Inauguration of the 2024/2025 Academic Year– new challenges and high hopes!

The inauguration of the New Academic Year is a unique event that symbolizes a new beginning, full of challenges and ambitious plans. – Let’s hope that we will manage to overcome all unfavorable winds – said Professor Wawrzyniec Konarski, Rector of Vistula University. – We have ambitions and high hopes.

The inauguration of the 2024/2025 Academic Year is a great celebration for the entire academic community of Vistula University. The ceremony was attended by lecturers, students, representatives of the administration staff and distinguished guests, including Dominik Borek, PhD, director of the Department of Tourism at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, Rafał Szmytke, president of the Polish Tourist Organization and Olgierd Łukaszewicz, an outstanding actor and advocate of European integration.

The Colour Guard presented our University Flags. The Vistula Choir performed the Polish anthem as well as the student hymn, Gaudeamus Igitur. Traditionally, the event included the ceremonial Act of Matriculation. Vistula PhD graduates were awarded doctoral diplomas and our students received awards for their outstanding sports and academic achievements. Vistula University is not only a place of study, but also a place where students can develop their passions and skills in various fields.

Read less

As every year, the inauguration was an opportunity to reflect on the successes to date, but also to define goals for the future against all odds.

Professor Wawrzyniec Konarski, Rector of Vistula University, pointed out that although the balance of our Universities’ activities is good, it does not mean that there are no threats. – We have achieved a very good, 4th position in the Perspektywy ranking, which proves that, “against all odds”, we manage to maintain the high reputation of our university, – emphasized Rector Konarski. The University educates 11,000 students from over 100 countries, but it has even greater ambitions and this is not an easy task. – The atmosphere in Poland as regards universities, especially the non-public ones, is not good – said the Rector.

Read less

– So, I would like to thank our students, business partners and employees for their support, we need it especially this year. Let’s take care of our university, let’s share experiences. Let’s hope that we will manage to overcome all unfavorable winds.

Professor Krzysztof Celuch, Rector of the Vistula School of Hospitality, while welcoming new students, noted that the Inauguration of the New Academic Year takes place on a special day. October 24 is the United Nations Day, it is also the beginning of the Disarmament Week. – This is important because we, at Vistula Universities, care about cooperation between nations, we care about your future.

Read less

We want us all to feel safe – assured professor Celuch. The Rector emphasized also the high significance of meetings. – Meetings build relationships, inspire creation, build emotions. Thanks to meetings, wars end, conflicts fade, people become better. Meetings generate millions in profits, but also set the world to rights. – Remembering that there is only one Earth, I welcome you to Vistula, the University of global opportunities. You can always count on us.

The Inauguration Ceremony was an opportunity to present honorary badges for Services to Tourism. The awards were given to Karolina Stępniak and Paweł Lewtak who distinguished themselves for their outstanding contribution to the development of the industry.

As usual, an important point of the ceremony was the inaugural lecture. This year it was delivered by Professor Jadwiga Berbeka from the University of Economics in Krakow, a renowned economist, author of over 150 publications, winner of prestigious awards such as the MP Power Awards 2015 and leader of international research projects. Her reports on the impact of the meetings industry on the Polish economy set standards, and as a reviewer of habilitation and doctoral theses, she supports the development of young scientists both in Poland and abroad.

Read less

Professor Berbeka spoke about changes in the behavior of consumers. As she emphasized, this is a normal process, but recently it has been exceptionally fast. – In my opinion, one of the most important factors – a gamechanger – is the digital transformation, which has given consumers access to a lot of information. Thanks to this, they feel more independent, safer, braver and more aware – she explained. – Today, when consumers are more ethical and focused on issues of sustainable development, suppliers cannot be focused only on profit, but also on achieving other goals – it is the question of social and ethical responsibility of the business environment – she said. Professor Berbeka pointed to the emergence of a new ecosystem, one which lays emphasis on values. One that is effective when it is inclusive. – So, I congratulate the students of Vistula University, because your university is very inclusive. I wish you that your academic ecosystem, which you have built at Vistula Universities, will be supportive, built on trust and that it will allow each of you, through the support provided by the university, to develop in the best possible way. Then share this knowledge. When we feel good in this ecosystem, we can change the world – said Professor Berbeka.

During the ceremony, letters of congratulations and thanks were also handed out to the academic staff. Professor Marta Gӧtz, PhD, and Ewa Gondek, PhD, were congratulated on being awarded the title of Professor, and Bartłomiej Nowak, PhD was congratulated on taking up the position of chairman of the National Agency for Academic Exchange.

The Inauguration was also an opportunity to present appointments to the Social and Business Council of the Vistula School of Hospitality for the term of office 2024-2028.

Summing up the ceremony, Professor Wawrzyniec Konarski appealed for solidarity and unity. We have high hopes!

Go to browsing